Unsolicited Advice to my Friends at City Hall
Yet another article in the Trib about problems with Planning:
At a meeting Wednesday, past community council Chairman Michael Hughes presented the board’s concerns to a group of about 50 Avenues residents. He complained of preferential treatment for builders, a tendency to push projects through without public notice and slow and incomplete responses to public records requests.
“We feel that this culture seems biased to people coming to the city with building applications,” he said. “We feel that this is inherently unfair, and we want the city to look at it and address it.” . . .The community council plans to consider a no-confidence vote, which carries no weight besides its message, on Aug. 6.
I walked a lot of miles for Mayor Becker last summer, I believe he is the right man for the job. The problem in planning is not going away, and is going to continue generating negative press. I want to offer some unsolicited advice.
1. Surprise the city and do something immediately. We know the Becker administration takes a very deliberative approach to decision making. In this case, show that you can act decisively and quickly. It could be as dramatic as firing someone. It could be something symbolic - close the office for two days to review tasks. Reassign a key staff person to planning for the next sixty days. Find some fesetering problem and solve it publicly. You need to do something concrete to show you are aware of the problem and that you are taking action.
2. Set a goal of creating a represenative, responsive and responsible planning division. Define what that means and talk about it publicly, often and persuasively. Ralph is a good public speaker (as are a number of staff members - David Everitt I’m looking at you!) - get out of City hall and speak about planning. Call the community councils and ask for time to talk about planning. Draft a proposed set of guidelines for a planning division that lives by the 3 Rs and get it into people’s hands.
3. Regain control of the narrrative. You’ve lost control of the story on planning. This year has seen a series of news stories that have created the impression that planning is utterly dysfunctional and your administration is not on top of it. There’s no doubt another story in the pipeline that’s going to make it look like you’re not in control. Beat it to the punch and get a press release in every reporter’s hands and hold press conference announcing your 3 R’s goal for planning.
4. Figure out how to avoid a vote of no confidence. Even if it is directed at one agency, it will tarnish the entire administration. You don’t want to have to clean up that mess.
5. Be loyal to the staff but don’t protect bureaucrats. I’m sure the staff in planning is qualified and you should not throw them to wolves. But, if it looks to the public that you are trying to protect their jobs, you’ll have a public outcry. Announce that as part of the fix, all staff positions are being examined. Let it be known you will terminate non-performing employees. You don’t have to fire someone - you need to demonstrate that you are willing to fire someone.
